A 

QUAKER'S VISIT 

TO 
HARTFORD 

IN THE YEAR 
1676 



Edited by 

FRANK D, ANDREWS 



Privately printed 

VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 
I 9 I 4 




A 
QUAKER'S VISIT 

TO 
HARTFORD 

IN THE YEAR 
1676 



Edited by 

FRANK D. ANDREWS 



Privately printed 
VINELAND, NEW JERSEY 
I 9 I 4 






BAY S laM 



PREFACE. 

The spirit which influenced the Quakers in the 
days of George Pox exists and influences men today; 
this indwelling spirit of God in man is coexistent 
with him though long in finding expression, it has, 
however, appeared in the deeply religious of all be- 
liefs and sects since the earth was peopled. 

Old as it is, it is a new revelation to many; the 
still small voice speaking to the soul is seldom 
heeded, though if followed, would lead to a higher 
and better life. 

The Quaker recognized this voice as of God, 
a sure guide to the truth. Having the truth he 
could do no less than share it with others, and the 
leaders entered upon the work of enlightment glad- 
ly, freely, going about sowing the seeds of right- 
eousness. 

The forms and ceremonies of the Church were to 
him unnecessar}'^ and of little value, a paid ministry 
and costly temples of worship were denounced. 

The Quaker found the kingdom of heaven within, 
and as God created all things, so every tiling was 
sacred, all days, holy days; life in short, must be 
spiritualized, so attuned to the Divine Life, that the 
voice of God in the soul would clearly reveal the 
way and the truth. 



2 

This spiritualized life, the union of man with his 
Creator, gave strength to endure the trials of the 
world and brought peace throug-h the certainty oi a 
conscious immortality. 

William Edmundson who visited Hartford so long 
agfo, was a tine example of the earl}'' Quakers who 
spent their lives in the service of the Lord. While 
his opinions and beliefs may not coincide with our 
own, we cannot fail to respect and honor his many 
sterling qualities, as shown by his life of devotion 
to the cause; his faithfulness, courage, love of 
truth and fidelity to duty. 

The influence of such a man does not cease with 
his death, and who can say his teachings on that 
Sabbath-day in Hartford, when he *'set all the Town 
a Talking of Religion" were without result; that 
the seed then sown, nurtured through the centuries, 
finding expression in the lives of men and women 
of the present day, has not in some degree changed 
the narrow belief held bj' their ancestors to a more 
rational view concerning God and man's relation 
to Him. 

The reader will find William Edmundson's Jour- 
nal, giving an account of his life and travels, pub- 
lished after his death, of great interest, particular- 
ly his experience in America, should they care to 
learn more regarding him. 

Frank D. Andrews. 

VlNELAND, N. J. 

February 4, 1914. 



THE QUAKER. 

William Edmundson, whose visit to Hariford is 
here recorded, was born in the north of Entjhiiid, in 
the year 1627. He was bound apprentice to the trade 
of carpenter and joiner in York, where he lived sev- 
eral years; afterwards he served in the army, par*, 
of the time under Oliver Cromwell. His conscience, 
always tender, was favorably influenced towards the 
doctrines of the Quakers and he soon became a con- 
vert. For awhile he eng-aged in trade, but becomiu.ir 
more and more convinced of the truths held by Qua- 
kers and meeting Georj?e Pox, he carried his mes- 
sage to the people, speaking in public places and 
making manj^ converts, though jjersecuted and 
imprisoned. In 1671, in company with George Fox 
and others, he went to the West Indies and later to 
America, visiting several of the Colonies. At New- 
port, in Rhode Island, he with others accepted a 
challenge to dispute with Roger Williams. Soon 
after Edmundson sailed from Boston on his return 
voyage. 

It was on his second visit to New England that he 
came to Hartford. His life was devoted to the ser- 
vice of truth, and in that service he helped humanity. 

He departed this life after about one months sick- 
ness, "in sweet Peace with the Lord, in Unity with 
his Brethren, and Good- Will to all Men," on June 
31 ,1712, in the eighty-tifth year of his age. 

From his reference to the "Baptist Rogers," wlio 
stopped at the Inn where he lodged, the time of bis 
visit is known to be late in the month of October, 
the General Court in session October 21, 1676, grant- 
ing Elizabeth, daughter of Mathew Grisvvokl of 
Lyme, and wife of John Rogers, a divorce. 



A 

QUAKER'S 

VISIT TO HARTFORD 

1676. 

An event ot more than passing interest in the early 
annals of Hartford occurred late in the year 1676, 
when a Quaker preacher, on his travels through 
New England, journeyed through the wilderness to 
the principal town in Connecticut Colony, where on 
the Sabbath, he delivered his message in both of the 
churches, and to the people assembled at the Inn 
where he tarried; suffered arrest, was released, and 
permitted to resume his journey, having followed 
the dictates of his conscience in the performance of 
what he considered his duty. 

Hartford at that time was about forty years old; 
many of the tirst settlers, who had crossed the sea, 
and those who with their pastor, Rev. Thomas 
Hooker, made their way through the trackless 
forests of Massachusetts Colony to the banks of the 
Connecticut, had been laid at rest, Thomas Hooker 
and his successor Samuel Stone, among them. Of 
those who by reason of strength survived, but few 
remained well advanced in years, who with the de- 
scendants of the early settlers and later additions 
formed a community of upward of a thousand souls. 

These men and women were in the manner of the 
time profoundly religious, yet could not dvvell to- 
gether in unity of spirit, having differences of opin- 
ion which led to controversy, resulting at last in 
the withdrawal of the minority and the organiza- 
tion of a second society. 



6 

The Meetiiig"-House of the First Society was on 
thie east side of "Meeting-House Square" near the 
road to the river and ferry. It was a square build- 
ing^ with a roof rising from its sides in the form of 
a pyramid. The Church was under the pastorial 
charg"e of Rev. Josepli Haynes. In the Square 
were also the whipping^-post, stocks, pillory and the 
jail for the more hardened offenders. 

The burial place of the first settlers, north of the 
Square had been superseded, and burials were now 
made in a larg-er plot on the main street, where lay 
the bodies of Hooker, Stone and others. 

The second house of worship, probably resembled 
the first, it had recently been erected on the east side 
of the highway or main street, a few rods south of 
Little River. Not to be dependent upon their 
brethren from whom they had seperated, they also 
it is believed, were provided with a bell to call 
their members together. Rev. John Whiting was 
the minister. 

By the stream some sixty rods distant, and in full 
view of the Meeting-House was a ship yard, to the 
south stood the Wyllys mansion; while close by was 
the old oak in which a few j^-ears later the Charter 
of the Colony was concealed. On the north bank of 
Little River the dwelling house of the lamemted 
Hooker could be Seen. With forty years of growth 
Hartford had replaced its first rude habitations with 
more substantial structures, and framed houses of 
one and two stories were making their appearance 
along its highways. 

Between the meetlng-Ijouses, and on the same side 
of the street, was the Ordinary or Inn, kc})t at that 
time by Jeremy Adams. 

For some time the Colony and all New England 



7 
had been devestated by the ravages of the Indians; 
expeditions had been fitted out and sent aj^ainst 
them with more or less success in subduinjif and 
dispersing them, until at last their acknowledi,^ed 
leader, King Philip, and many of his warriors were 
surrounded and destroyed. Scattered bands of 
Indians remained to prey upon the settlers and tlie 
precaution of keeping' armed men on guard duriiij^ 
divine service, to prevent surprise, stiJl prevailed. 

The disciple of George Pox who spent the Sabbath 
in this town on the Connecticut River, and who in 
his journal, left au account of the reception he re- 
ceived there, was William Edmundson, an English- 
man, then about forty-nine years of age. 

After visiting Boston and several of the eastern 
towns he returned to Newport, in Rhode Island, 
where, after ministering to the sick who fell victims 
to the pestilence which followed the victory over 
the Indians, he too. was overcome by the disease. 

On his recovery he decided to go to New York, 
and with a fellow worker in the cause took passage 
for that place, he had however heard of the settle- 
ment of his countrymen on the Connecticut River 
and felt impelled to carry his message to them 

He relates in quaint phraseology his experience 

in the town settled by Hooker and his followers. 

He says: — "Now whilst' we were on Board the 
Sloop, came much upon me to go to New Hertford, 
a Chief Town in Connecticut Colon}', which lay ai)out 
Fifty Miles in the Country, through a great Wilder- 
ness, and very dang^erous to travel, the Indians 
being in Arms, haunting- those Parts, and killing 
many Christians: so it look'd frightful, that I, who 
was a Stranger in the Country, should undertake 
such a Journey in those perilous Times: but the ser- 
vice came close upon me, and I was under great 
Exercise of Mind about it, yet said nothing of it to 



8 

any Man for some Days, 

We were sore toss'd at Sea, foreward and back 
ward, by contrary Winds and bad weather, yet got 
once on shore in Shelter-Island, and went to Nathan- 
iel Sylvester's, a Friend, who dwelt there, where we 
had a Meeting-; after which the Wind and Weather 
seeming to favor us, we went on board again, and 
set on our Voyage, but in the Night it was exceeding 
stormy, and we were in great Danger of being cast 
away; yet by the Lord's Providence escaped, 
but w^ere diiven back to New London: and the Wind 
continuing against us we stayed there three Days, 
and endeavoured to get a Meeting, but the people 
being rigid Presbyterians, would not suffer us to 
have one." 

Hearing of some Baptists, five miles from New 
London, " who kept the Seventh Day of the week 
as a Sabbath," they visited and discoursed wiih 
them. On the following day, the first of the week, 
they attempted to hold a meeting in New London, 
"but the Constable and other Officers came with 
arm'd Men, and forcibly broke up our Meeting, hal- 
ing and abusing us very much; but the sober People 
were offended at them." 

"That Evening we weigh'd Anchor, and set Sciil, 
the Wind seemed something fair for us; but it still 
remain'd with me to go to New Hertford, yet it seem- 
ed hard to give up, to be expos 'd to such Perils as 
seem'd to attend that Journey; but I kept it secret, 
thinking that the Lord might take it off me. We 
had sailed but about three Leagues when the Wind 
came strong ahead of us; that Night we had a Storm, 
and were glad to get a Harbour, where we lay some 
Days, the Wind blowing stiff" against us. And the 
Hand of the Lord came heavy upon me, pressing me 
to go to New Hertford; so I gave up to the Will of 
God, whether to live or die. Then I told the Ct)ni- 
pany, That I was the Cause, why they were so 
cross'd and detained in their Voyage. And I shevv'd 
them, How the Lord had required me to go to New 



Hertford, and the Journey seeminj^ perilous, I had 
delayed; but now must jj^o, in Submission to the 
Will of God, whether I lived or died. The Owner 
of the Sloop wept, and the rest were amaz'd and 
tender. 

Then James Fletcher would g-o with me: so we 
went on Shore, and boug^ht each of us a Horse, and 
the next Morniufif took leave of our Sloop-Com])any; 
then went on our Journey without any Guide, except 
the Lord, and travel'd thro' a jy:reat Wilderness, 
which held us most of that Day's Journey. We 
travel'd hard, and by the Lord's j^racious Assistance 
got that Night within four Miles of New-Hertford, 
where we lodg'd at an Ordinary, and the People 
were civil. I g"ot up next Mornin<j' very early, it 
being the First Day of the Week, and went to Hert- 
ford on foot, leavinj^ my Horse at the Ordinary, and 
desir'd James Fletcher to stay there, till he saw the 
Issue of my Service, for I expected at least a Prison 
at Hertford 

So getting there pretty soon in the Morning, 
the Town was about two Miles long; and I was mov- 
ed to go to their Worship. I came to one great 
Meetiug-House, but the Priest and People were not 
come to their Worship, it being early; and m}^ Spirit 
was shut up from that Place. Then I was brought 
under great Exercise of Mind, fearing That the Lord 
was angry with me, and rejected m}^ Service, for 
my Delay under this Exercise. I went on forward 
about Half a Mile, so came near to another great 
Meeting-House, and I found Openness in my Spirit 
1o go thither, I was glad of the Lord's Countenance, 
tho' the People were not come yet to their Worship. 

There was a brave River, where they built many 
Ships, about a Quarter of a Mile distant; thither I 
went, and sate down, until I saw People go to their 
Worship: when they were gathej-'d I went there, and 
stood in the Worship-House, near the Priest, until he 
had done his Service, then I spoke what the Lord 
gave me: They were moderate and quiet, and the 
Priest and Magistrates went away, but many of the 



lO 

People staid, and I had good Service amontc them: 
"when I had clear'd my Conscience we parted, and 1 
went again towards the River-side, As I was going 
a Man call'd me to come to his House and dine with 
him: I stood a little and look'd at him, his Spirit 
seem'd to be deceitful, I ask'd him, If he would take 
Money for his Victuals? he said, No; then 1 told him, 
I would not eat with him. So I went to the River- 
side again, and sate down., though I had not eaten 
any thing that Day. 

After some time the Bells rung for their Afternoon 
Worship, and I was moved to go to the other Wor- 
ship-House afore mention'd, from which in the 
Morning my Spirit was shut up. So I went there, 
and the Priest and People were gather 'd, having a 
Guard of Firelocks, for fear of the Indians coming 
upon them; whilst at their Worship I went in, and 
sounded an Alarm in the Dread of the Lord's Pow- 
er, and they were statrtled, yet were kept down by 
the Lord's Power, in which I declared the way of 
Salvation unto them a pretty while; but after some 
time, by the Perswasions of the Priest, the Officers 
haled me out of the Worship-House, and hurt my 
Arm so that it bled; then they took me to the Guard 
of Firelocks upon a Hill. 

And though it was a piercing cold Day, and I still 
Fasting, my Body also thin, by reason of the Sick- 
ness I had in Rhode-Island not long before, and oth- 
er Exercises which I travelled thro', yet the Lord's 
Power supported me, so that the Officer, who had 
me in Charge, first complained of the Sharpness of 
the Weather, and ask'd me How I could endure the 
Cold, for he was very cold ? I told him, It was the 
Entertainment, that their great Profeft'ors of Relig- 
ion in New-England afforded a Stranger, and 3:et 
profeff'd the Scriptures to be their Rule, which coin 
manded to entertain Strangers, and besides they 
had drawn my blood; So I shevv'd him my Arm that 
was hurt; he seemed to be troubled, and excused 
their Magistrates, I told him, The Magistrates and 
Priests must answer for it to the Lord, for they 
were the cause of it: then he took me to mi Inn, and 



II 

presently the Room was Mll'd with Professors: much 
Discourse we had, and the Lord stren^^thentd me, 
and by his Spirit brought many Scriptures to my 
Remembrance; so that Trutli's 'J'estiniony was over 
them. As one Compan\^ went away another came 

When they were foii'd, a Preacher amongst the 
Baptists took up tlie Argument against Truth, 
charging Friends with holdin<^ a great Error, [which 
was] That every Man had a Measure of the Spirit 
of Christ; and would know^ If I held the same error? 
I told him, That was no Error, for the Scriptures 
witnessed to it plentifully. He said. He denied, that 
the World had received a Measure of the Spirit, but 
Believers had received it. I told hitn that the Apos- 
tle said, A manifestation of the Spirit was given to 
every one to protit withal. He said, That was 
meant to every one of the believers. I told him, 
Christ had enlightend every one that came into the 
World, with the Light of his Spirit: He said. That 
was every one of the Believers that came into the 
World: and as 1 brought him Scriptures, he still ap- 
plied them to the Belivers, saying, There was the 
Ground of our Error, in applying that to every Man 
which properly belonged to Believers. Then the Lord 
by his good Spirit brought to mj'^ Mind the Promise 
of our Saviour, [when he told his Disciples of his 
going away] That he would send the Comforter, the 
Spirit of Truth, that should convince the World of 
Sin, and should guide his Disciples into all Truth: 
Thus the same Spirit of Truth, that leads Believers 
into all Truth, convinces the World of Sin. So thou 
must grant, that all have recieved it, or else shew 
from the Scriptures a Select Numb<-r of Believers; 
and besides them a World of Believers that hath the 
Spirit, also another Workl of (Jnb -lie vers, that hath 
no Measure of the Spirit to convince them ot Sin. 
Here the Lord's Testimony came over him, so that 
he was stop'd, and many sober Professors, who staid 
to see the End, acquisc'd therewith, and said, in- 
deed, Mr. Rog^ers, the Man is in the right, for y«)u 
must find a Select Number of Believers, besides a 



12 

World that hath a Measure of the Spirit, that con- 
vinces them of Sin, and a World that hath not the 
Spirit, so not convinc'd of Sin: this you must do, or 
grant the Argument. He was silent, and the People 
generally satisfied in that matter, their Understand- 
ings being open'd; so they took their leave of me 
very lovingly, it being late in the Night. 

When they were gone, I desired the Woman of the 
House to boil me a little Milk, for that Day I had 
not eaten. The Baptist Rogers (aforesaid) lodg'd 
there that Night, but liv'd Fifty Miles off, and was 
Pastor to those Seven-Day-Sabbath People, that I 
had been with above a Week before near New Lon- 
don. The People of this House where we lodged 
being Presbyterians, I call'd the Baptist from them 
into another room: he told me where he liv'd, and 
what People he was Pastor to. I told him, I was 
with his Hearers, and they were loving and tender. 
He also acquainted me, he w^as sumraon'd to Hert- 
ford, to appear before the Assembly that th^n sate, 
who had taken away his Wife from him. whom he 
had married some Years ago, before he was of the 
Perswasion that he now was of. And since he be- 
came a Baptist, her Father, being an Elder of the 
Presbyterians, was set violently against him, and 
endeavoured to div^orce his Daughter from him, 
[though he had two Children by her] for some ill 
Fact he had committed before he was her Husband, 
and whilst he was one of theii' Church; whereof, 
under Sorrow and Trouble of Mind, he had acquain- 
ted her, and she had divulged the same to her Fa 
ther; for which, he said, they had taken away his 
Wife. I ask'd, How he could join with them in op- 
posing me; and at such a time when 1 was but One, 
being a stranger, and they Abundant in Opposition? 
Also, Whether it was not unmanly to do so? But it 
being late, I desir'd some further Discourse with 
him in the Morning, which he assented to; but al- 
though I was up before the Sun rose, he had gone 
away before, 

I sent to the Officer, that had the Charge of me 



13 
the Day before, to know, if he had an}' further to do 
with me, who said, I might g"o when and where I 
pleas'd. So I paid the people for my Ni^lits Lodj;;^- 
ing, and beings clear of the Service there, I went 
towards the Place where I left James Fletcher and 
our Horses; in the mean time James Fletcher came 
another way to look for me: thus we miss'd of one 
another. When he came to Hertford, he heard by 
several where I was gone, and so came back, and 
told me, That I had set all the Town a Talking of 
Religion." 

The next morning the Quaker and his companion 
started on their return, crossing to Long Island, 
where they held meetings; from there to Shrews- 
bury and Middletown, in East Jersey, thence across 
to Pennsylvania, having a meeting at Upland: after- 
wards taking boat about thirty miles to Salem, in 
West Jersey, recently settled by John Fenwick 
and his colony of Quakers. "We order'd our horses 
to meet us at Delaware Town by Land; so we got 
Friends together at Salem, and had a Meeting: after 
which we had the Hearing of several Differences, 
and endevour'd to make Peace among them." 

William Edmundson was probable the tirst of the 
travelling Quaker preachers to visit that part of 
West Jersey , afterwards frequently mentioned, with 
Greenwich, Cape May and other localities, in the 
journals of visiting Friends. 

Leaving Salem, Edmundson crossed to Delaware 
Town, passing through the colony to Maryland, then 
into Virginia and Carolina; holding meetings, en- 
during hardships, and having many adventures, 
before he could conscientiously return to his native 
land. 



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